A method where a woman monitors her body’s natural fertility indicators (signs) during her monthly cycle. These show when you can have sex without risking pregnancy (non-fertile time) and when you should avoid sex (fertile time).

How does it work?

By monitoring your body temperature, vaginal discharge and the length of yoour cycle you can tell when you are fertile and when you are not.

What’s great about it?

If used correctly is 99% effective - one woman in 100 using this method will get pregnant in a year. It is often not used correctly which results in more women falling pregnant.

Involves no hormones so no side effects and periods are not affected.

Gives a woman a greater awareness of her body.

Can also be used to plan a pregnancy.

What's not so great about it?

It’s not as effective in real life as other methods but it’s better than using nothing.

Need to avoid sex (or use a condom) at fertile times of the month.

It takes 3–6 period cycles to learn your fertile times accurately.

You have to keep daily records.

NB Persona is a small computerised monitor with urine test sticks, which measure your hormone changes. It predicts the fertile and infertile times of your cycle. If used correctly it can be 94 per cent effective.

A daily pill taken by mouth containing the hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

How does it work?

One pill is taken every day for three weeks out of four. The fourth week is a pill free week within which you normally get a period.

The hormones stop ovulation (eggs being released from the ovaries), thicken the mucus at the entrance to the womb preventing sperm getting through and thin the lining of your womb preventing implantation of a fertilised egg.

What’s great about it?

Very Effective. If taken perfectly the pill is >99% effective - less than one in 100 women will get pregnant each year. However pill users often don’t take it correctly (e.g miss pills) and such typical use means more women will fall pregnant (8 in 100).

Insertion can be slightly uncomfortable. Local anaesthetic is offered.

Periods may be a little longer, heavier or more painful. This may improve.

Can become displaced or fall out (expulsion) but this is uncommon (5 in 100) and you can do checks yourself to make sure it’s in place.

Small risk of pelvic infection for up to 3 weeks after insertion. This risk is reduced by having a sexual health screen before it’s fitted.

Very small risk of perforating the womb or cervix (1 in 2000).

Where can I get it?

Click here to text for an appointment at Chelsea and Westminster Sexual Health service. A preliminary appointment is usually required before fitting this method to discuss the method fully, screen for infections and schedule a fitting date.

The hormone thickens the mucus at the entrance to the womb preventing sperm getting through and thins the lining of your womb preventing implantation of a fertilised egg. It may also stop ovulation (eggs being released from the ovaries) in some women.

What’s great about it?

Extremely effective (>99%). Less than 1 in 100 women using it will fall pregnant over 5 years.

Contraception lasts for 5 years unless you want it removed earlier.

Periods usually become lighter, shorter and sometimes less painful.

Can be used by women who have never had a baby.

Fertility returns as soon as it is removed.

There will be no need to take pills, interrupt sex or attend clinic regularly after insertion.

Insertion can be slightly uncomfortable. Local anaesthetic is offered.

Can cause irregular periods or no periods.

Can become displaced or fall out (expulsion) but this is uncommon (5 in 100) and you can do checks yourself to make sure it’s in place.

Small risk of pelvic infection for up to 3 weeks after insertion. This risk is reduced by having a sexual health screen prior to the fitting.

Very small risk of perforating the womb or cervix (1 in 2000 risk).

Where can I get it?

Click here to text for an appointment at Chelsea and Westminster Sexual Health service. A preliminary appointment is usually required before fitting this method to discuss the method fully, screen for infections and schedule a fitting date.

A soft, plastic, matchstick sized rod placed under the skin which releases the hormone progesterone.

A trained health care provider inserts it under your upper arm using local anesthetic.

How does it work?

The hormone stops ovulation (eggs being released from the ovaries), thickens the mucus at the entrance to the womb preventing sperm getting through and thins the lining of your womb preventing implantation of a fertilised egg.

What’s great about it?

Extremely effective (>99%). Less than 1 in 1,000 women using it will fall pregnant over 3 years.

Contraception lasts for 3 years unless you want it removed earlier.

It can reduce heavy/painful periods and may make them less frequent or stop altogether.

Fertility rapidly returns as soon as it is removed.

There will be no need to take pills, interrupt sex or attend clinic regularly after insertion.

The patch is changed and rotated to a different site (chest, stomach, back, arms or buttocks) every week for three weeks out of four. The fourth week is a patch free break within which you normally get a period.

The hormones stop ovulation (eggs being released from the ovaries), thicken the mucus at the entrance to the womb preventing sperm getting through and thin the lining of your womb preventing implantation of a fertilised egg.

What’s great about it?

Very Effective. If taken perfectly it is >99% effective - less than one in 100 women will get pregnant each year. However patch users often do not use it properly - with such typical more women will fall pregnant each year (8 in 100).

The hormone thickens the mucus at the entrance to the womb preventing sperm getting through and thins the lining of your womb preventing implantation of a fertilised egg. Some POPs also stop ovulation (eggs being released from the ovaries).

What’s great about it?

Very Effective. If taken perfectly it is >99% effective - less than one in 100 women will get pregnant each year. If it is not taken perfectly more women may fall pregnant.

Periods may stop or become lighter or less frequent.

Its effect on fertility is rapidly reversible.

Can be used by women who cannot take oestrogen (COC/Patch/ring) e.g. overweight women.

Injection of the hormone progesterone - given every three months by a health care professional.

How does it work?

Stops ovulation (eggs being released from the ovaries), thickens the mucus at the entrance to the womb preventing sperm getting through and thins the lining of your womb preventing implantation of a fertilised egg.

What’s great about it?

Very effective. Less than 1 in 250 women will get pregnant over two years.

No need to take pills or use something every time you have sex.

Contraception lasts for 12 weeks.

May help heavy, painful periods or pre-menstrual tension.

Periods may stop or become less frequent. After 1 year 50% women have no periods and by two years most women will not have periods.

Not affected by other medications, vomiting or diarrhoea.

Can be used in women who cannot tolerate or use oestrogen containing contraceptives (COC/patch/ring) e.g. overweight women.